(1908-1985), first
secretary of the Albanian Workers Party (1943-1985), the most powerful
position in Albania. Born in GjirokastŽr, he studied in KorÁŽ and in
Montpellier, France. Dismissed from a diplomatic post in Belgium (1934-1936)
for writing articles critical of the Albanian government, he took a position
in KorÁŽ teaching French. After Italy occupied Albania in 1939, Hoxha led the
underground resistance movement and in 1941 formed the Albanian Communist
Party (known as the Albanian Party of Labor or Workers' Party from 1943 to
1991, when it was renamed the Socialist Party). When Albania was freed from
foreign occupation in 1944, Hoxha became head of the provisional government;
he remained prime minister until 1954 and also held the position of foreign
minister from 1946 to 1953. Suppressing all opposition, Hoxha embarked upon a
program of industrialization and agrarian and social reform. His isolationist
Stalinist regime was allied with the USSR until the Soviet renunciation of
Stalinism led to a formal break in 1961. Albania then became China's chief
ally; relations cooled after 1978 due to China's rapprochement with the United
States. In 1974 Hoxha repelled an attempted coup. He retained power until his
death in April 1985, and was succeeded by Ramiz Alia.